Harvester-frame



(No Model.) Y

J. F. STBWARD.

HARVESTER FRAME.

NTTE `STATES PATENT HARVESTER-FRAM E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 396,245, dated January 15, 1889.

Application filed May 19, 1888. Serial No. 274,413. (No model.)

T0 all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN F. STEWARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oliicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Iilarvester-Frames, of which the following is a full, clear,- and exact specilication.

Figure l is a perspective view of the main portion of the trame havingmy improvement applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of one of the quaulrant-racks in which the axle is supported, showing the connection of the braces thereto.

In practice it is found that most harvestingmachines on which binders are mounted become twisted out of theiroriginal form in consequence of the weight of the frame and binder and the strains to which they are subjected. Usually the divider end of the linger-bar becomes lower than its opposite end, and in some cases the rear platform-sill sags at its outer end.

My improvement consists in a peculiar arrangement of braces whereby the frame may be properly aligned or brought to the required form or thrown so far out of alignment in a direction the reverse of that to which it naturally sags that the sagging' action will cause it to assume the proper form.

I have shown my improvement applied to a frame which is in other respects of substantially the same character as those now in general use.

A represents the front sill ot' the wheelframe, and B the front sill or linger-bar of the platform-frame secured thereto.

C is the rear sill of the wheel-frame, D a truss -located at the grain side of the main-wheel space and connecting the front and rear sills, and D a corresponding -truss on the outer or stubble side of the main-wheel space. These trusses may be of wood, if desired; but I prefer to make them of angle-iron, and I have thus shown them in the drawings of wellknown form,each truss con sistin of a straight bottom member and a top member which is bent upward at the middle.

E and E represent two slotted segmental rack-plates bolted to the inner sides of the respective trusses and designed to receive and guide the ends of the main axle and the pinions thereon in the customary manner.

In their general construction and arrangement the foregoing parts are similar to those now in use.

In applying my improvement I provide, as shown in the drawings, four braces, a, l), c, and d, and apply them in the peculiar positions shown in the drawings. The brace a extends from the upper end of the segment-rack E of the grain-side truss to the front sill, A, at a point some distance from the truss. The brace c extendsin a similar manner from the upper end of the segment-rack to the .rear sill,O, at a point some distance grainward from the truss. These two braces, it will be observed, extend one forward and the other backward; but they both extend grainward and downward from the top of the segmentrack and truss. The brace l) extendsfrom the lower part of the segment-rack E upward and grainward to the front sill, while the brace d extends in a similar manner from .the lower end of the segment-rack grainward and upward to the rear sill, C. The braces are securely attached at their inner ends to the sills, preferably by vertical bolts c and f. I prefer to unite the braces a and b at their front ends and the braces c and d at their rear ends, as shown but this connection is not necessary, the only requirement being that they shall have rigid connection with the sills at or near the points indicated. As shown in the drawings, the braces are extended through holes in the segment-rack E, which is provided with lateral ears or offsets to receive them, and each provided with two nuts, one on the inside and the other on the outside, as shown in Fig. 2, this arrangement permitting each brace to be secured firmly in position but adjusted endwise, as may be demanded. The segment-rack serves in effect as an intermediate device for connectiilg the braces with the top and bottom of the segment-rack. Any other suitable mode of connection may be adopted, provided the braces occupy the position indicated in relation to the truss and sills.

Ihile I prefer to secure the braces by the nut, in order to admit of their independent longitudinal adjustment, they may be riveted or otherwise secured rigidly in place, provided IOO the proper precautions are taken to secure the required adjustment of the parts when they are assembled.

The raising of the outer end of the fingerbar is effected by shortening' the brace a and lengtheningl the brace l). The elevation of the grain end of the rear sill is effected by shortening the brace c and lengthenin the brace d.

In setting up the machines I prefer to give them such degree of twist that when they spring or sag` in action they will assume the required forni-that is to say, theform in which the frame is flat and the front and rear sills parallel.

I am aware that adjustable braces have been variously applied in connection with Wheelframes and elevator-frames of harvesters.

Having thus described myinyention, what I claim is'- 1. In a harresterframe, the front and rear sills, A C, and the connecting-truss D, in combination with the four diagonal braces eX- tended grainward from the truss and connect ing' the same at top and bottom with the sills.

2. In a harvester-frame, the truss and the front sill,in combination with the front braces, Co b,extending forward and grainward from the top and bottom of the truss to the sill.

3. In a harvester-frame, the truss and the rear sill, C, secured thereto, in combination with the braces c (l, extending; rearward and g'raii'nvard from the top and bottom of the truss to said sill.

4L. In a harvester-frame, the front and rear sills and the connecting-truss, in eombin ation with the four diagonal braces extended grain- Ward 'from the truss and conn eeting the same at the top and bottom with the respective sills and each adapted for independent longitudinal adjustment.

JOHN F. STEVARD.

IVitneSSeS:

P. D. INHDDLEKAUFF, T. B. REED. 

